tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post4577368574571724848..comments2024-03-29T05:44:18.835-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Large orders can make Arjun tank cheaperBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-91702375268606100692011-11-28T04:47:19.310-08:002011-11-28T04:47:19.310-08:00The Army's damn right in being cautious, if no...The Army's damn right in being cautious, if not downright circumspect & tentative, in asking HVF to produce more than 124 tank at a time. HVF produced a defect-prone, defunct-reliability 'world-class' Vijayanta, its T-72 Ajeys / Combat Improved Ajeys were no better and the desi T-90s are a chip off the old block. Not surprising. I wonder what Broadsword has to say about the work culture & quality-assurance practices at HVF & CVRDE ? <br /><br />I wonder why did the Army (or CVRDE) not look at merely cooling the thermal camera module of the ESSA sight instead of the entire turret volume ? A T-90 with an auxiliary power pack & a strapped-on AC pack would be a grotesque sight ! Anyone seen one ? Can't miss the huge turret-size target ! What about using uncooled thermal detector arrays ? Marginally lower acquisition ranges & inferior thermal discrimination seem acceptable trade-off, subject to validation by trials. The problem is at the user-end as well as at the HVF-end. Has anyone been prosecuted till date for loss to the Exchequer on account of persistently poor quality assurance (we can get an ISO certification there) ? A 70-ton ARJUN.....pah ! I have always maintained that the ARJUN is an over-engineered tank ! The internal volume is grossly enlarged due to very poor internal layout & configuration. The Merkava weighs 65 tons and is 7.60m long (less gun), 3.7m wide, 2.66m high. The equivalent Arjun dimensions are 7.5m hull length, 3.85m wide & 2.32m high & it weighs nearly seven tonnes less than the Merkava IV. Any guesses ????<br /><br />An upgraded suspension ? The old one was 'bow-legged' with the axle arms wilting under the weight. Check out the wear pattern on the older road wheels ! <br /><br />Why can't we pick up a new turret design with a non-Russian gun (Ukrainian / Israel), maybe 120 mm smooth bore. Its time we called the Russian bluff !!! More later....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-50403771577108745952011-11-27T12:39:13.697-08:002011-11-27T12:39:13.697-08:00"On 1st July 11, the US Congress was notified..."On 1st July 11, the US Congress was notified that Egypt would buy 125 Abrams tanks for $1.3 billion --- i.e. $10.4 million, or Rs 54 crore, per tank."<br /><br />You are comparing apples to oranges. The package does not include the tank, but spares and support maintenance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-58287548084591033972011-11-27T03:09:25.214-08:002011-11-27T03:09:25.214-08:00Thank you, Col. Shukla. Looking forward to reading...Thank you, Col. Shukla. Looking forward to reading about the FMBT!Heberiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-63169891752305838542011-11-27T01:34:42.300-08:002011-11-27T01:34:42.300-08:00it is heartening to see the development at tank fr...it is heartening to see the development at tank front after col. shukla's "save arjun campaign."i urge Col. shukla please start a striking campaign for "1500 hp Indian tank engine and transmission system".<br />although it is very important to have good tanks for desert war,but for Indian point of view artillery is equally important,as we will have to deal with china in mountain warfare mode.on this front we are quite vulnerable for chine.no artillery program no procurement since 90's. please start a dazzling and striking campaign to pressurize for needful.<br />i am hopeful about the success of col. shukla's campaign as col. is the best defense journalist of India. plz.....................Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-77158912279362468952011-11-26T22:47:59.244-08:002011-11-26T22:47:59.244-08:00@ Heberian
There is very much an initiative to ge...@ Heberian<br /><br />There is very much an initiative to get the gun control and transmission indigenously developed... not through ToT but by developing Indian versions.<br /><br />Stand by for more in my forthcoming piece on the FMBT.Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-84617660425258975352011-11-26T21:06:05.368-08:002011-11-26T21:06:05.368-08:00Col. Shukla -
Thank you for the moderation, and t...Col. Shukla -<br /><br />Thank you for the moderation, and the absolutely tongue-in-cheek "..word that better describes a gap" !! We can do with some decency and less jingoism and display of utter lack of knowledge by some of our wiki-warriors..<br /><br />Not being an armour person myself, please excuse me if my doubt is silly:<br /><br />Why is there not initiative to get the transmission and turret stabilization done at home, maybe through ToT?Heberiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-21922918387264162232011-11-26T20:14:10.215-08:002011-11-26T20:14:10.215-08:00@ THE TERMINATOR
Your comment has not been posted...@ THE TERMINATOR<br /><br />Your comment has not been posted because of a racist reference to the Chinese people.<br /><br />You might like to repost it, describing our friendly neighbours as "Chinese" rather than "C____", a word that is better used to describe a gap.Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-64953173256620647872011-11-26T18:21:24.735-08:002011-11-26T18:21:24.735-08:00Ya this is not even funny any more. Our tube arty ...Ya this is not even funny any more. Our tube arty procurement saga is very well known.<br /><br />Even god doesn't know in which panch varshiya yojna will we ever get new arty guns and yet the babus at army's procurement directorate don't go for bulk Arjun orders to beef up at least one side of the armor. Too happy with chai -biskoot trials till eternity while the chinks come calling at the gate. And then boldly say "we won't let 1962 repeat" or even worse " we'll fight with what we have" with what STONES ?<br />Pretty pathetic to say the least.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-33530336217550552582011-11-26T17:02:05.685-08:002011-11-26T17:02:05.685-08:00The trouble is we all know Arjun project was not w...The trouble is we all know Arjun project was not without issues.<br />However it didn't look like the Army wanted to contribute because it thought it was just a project that they should not be intrested.<br />So leading to time and cost over runs.<br /><br />Then they never tested it seriously, making sure they did not have strategy to induct nce again the blame was on our own lab's.<br /><br />Now they don't want to induct it in large numbers , where as a matter of fact they should be knowing this tank more than any other tank they have.<br /><br />So lack of interest and strategy.Don't see any reason why 500 tanks order is not a good number. Specially when they were so uncautious ( just springing the term) about the T 90 and waht they wanted from it. Not that it's bad, that they were ready to get it corrected over time.<br /><br />Invest on more comparative trails , don't publish the report but make sure we have a better strategy on both the tanks and they are in good numbers with us.<br /><br />Wish they are doing it and the numbers will go up for the Arjun and in time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-88246693347792367072011-11-26T09:13:29.520-08:002011-11-26T09:13:29.520-08:00'SIR ,AS A TANKMAN YOURSELF WOULD YOU LIKE TO ...'SIR ,AS A TANKMAN YOURSELF WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE IT TO BATTLEFIELD?'DHRUVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14998665376363197804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-8437349190171723312011-11-26T09:07:53.482-08:002011-11-26T09:07:53.482-08:00Manufacturing infrastructure for production of ind...Manufacturing infrastructure for production of indigenously developed Main Battle Tank, Arjun can generate lot of economic value for the nation. Keeping such manufacturing unit without work is a corrupt and criminal act against the nation. In view of the regular Chinese intrusions across the LOC and warnings by so many defense experts about Chinese sinister intentions, we should go for massive production of this tank. <br /><br />We must adopt again the policy of ‘Self Reliance’. Can we ever fight a sustained war with either China or even Pakistan with imported tanks, each shell of which costs few thousand dollars. Recently, the outgoing Chairman of HAL also complained about the low number of orders for the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas; making per unit cost of the aircraft very high. He further added that he is confident that ultimately HAL will build 200 LCAs. Is there some sort of conspiracy against indigenously developed products? Commercial success of all indigenously developed products is very important.<br /><br />The nation must deliberate the issue of principle of defense procurements.<br /><br />P.K.Chaudhuri.<br />Noida.P.K.Chaudhurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10243425778396514693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-1020111655582884912011-11-26T08:05:54.236-08:002011-11-26T08:05:54.236-08:00Sir,
Will there be a report on our FMBT in your...Sir,<br /> Will there be a report on our FMBT in your 5 part series?lspknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-53594000203165514742011-11-26T07:52:03.005-08:002011-11-26T07:52:03.005-08:00Any progress in DRDO developed engine for Arjun?Any progress in DRDO developed engine for Arjun?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-14922586142778875892011-11-26T07:48:13.552-08:002011-11-26T07:48:13.552-08:00Colonel, is this you?
http://www.blogger.com/prof...Colonel, is this you?<br /><br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/16488839157370084666Sushilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-76743354957488491212011-11-26T07:02:25.274-08:002011-11-26T07:02:25.274-08:00Between the Arjun Mk1 and Mk2, an optimum producti...Between the Arjun Mk1 and Mk2, an optimum production and modification friendly model as Arjun Mk1A should be invented and ordered for full 500 numbers to reduce the cost, save the time and improve the production. It should be such that it can be later modified easily to Mk2 standards in workshops or in batches at earliest.Mr. Ranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-72687486607400429892011-11-26T05:12:14.116-08:002011-11-26T05:12:14.116-08:00Can this line be utilized for something else ? T72...Can this line be utilized for something else ? T72 modernization is up as well as bmp2 modernization plan is now rolling. I think we are purchasing huge numbers of t90 we can't we produce some of them here also?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-14085793803828565012011-11-26T05:05:57.449-08:002011-11-26T05:05:57.449-08:00@ Bhisma
Thanks. Error corrected.@ Bhisma<br /><br />Thanks. Error corrected.Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-86035485590482139292011-11-26T05:05:09.970-08:002011-11-26T05:05:09.970-08:00@ Joydeep
If you read the article(s) before posti...@ Joydeep<br /><br />If you read the article(s) before posting your questions, you might find that the article(s) contain all or most of the answers to your questions.<br /><br />@ DJ, and Anonymous 17:48<br /><br />Try selling it abroad? Who knows, there might well be some buyers like India out there who are willing to buy a tank that one's own military is far from enthusiastic about.<br /><br />I refer, of course, to India's purchase of the T-90... even though the Russian Army does not use that tank as an MBT.Broadswordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-63998021958297022982011-11-26T04:18:41.176-08:002011-11-26T04:18:41.176-08:00yes..try exporting it...
would you buy something f...yes..try exporting it...<br />would you buy something from the US that US Army wont use no matter whatever the reason that US Army has refused to use it!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-71319573034392278202011-11-26T04:13:59.917-08:002011-11-26T04:13:59.917-08:00Mr.Shukla
again you made a mistake. Its a COMBAT(V...Mr.Shukla<br />again you made a mistake. Its a COMBAT(VRDE) not CENTRAL(VRDE).Bhismanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-41530350128656405782011-11-26T03:54:48.073-08:002011-11-26T03:54:48.073-08:00Thanks for these updates. It seems that the Arjun ...Thanks for these updates. It seems that the Arjun program is finally getting a move on, hope the CVRDE through its innovations manages to reduce the cost of the tank. This aside,please can you also update us regarding the upgrading of India's night fighting capabilities, an issue that was highlighted post 26/11 and when there were talks of "surgical strikes"? How much has the situation regarding night fighting capabilities really improved since then?<br /><br />Thanks & Best Regards,<br />ShubhamShubhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-36681175697303446062011-11-26T03:00:13.051-08:002011-11-26T03:00:13.051-08:00sir,
i was wondering if you have any info on futu...sir,<br /><br />i was wondering if you have any info on future infantry combat vehicle project.....please do share<br />if you have anything with you.....thank yousoumyadipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-38430776035227454502011-11-26T02:57:55.459-08:002011-11-26T02:57:55.459-08:00anonymous@8:47, do you even know the cost for deve...anonymous@8:47, do you even know the cost for developing those systems in india? clearly not. it would break the arjun project allocation. instead, you rave and rant like a poltroon against the very people, who managed to work within those constraints and build such a world class tank. those defense lab scientists are doing a great job, whereas you in your so called private sector job, obviously have no clue of how hard the technology acquisition and development process is. and no, we don't need to admire china's "bold confidence"- i for one see no merit in a nation which brutalizes its own citizens via forced abortions in the 21st century, conducts mass reprisals, uses prison labour to construct private buildings, the list of such dubious activities is endless. and no, all the key technologies in arjun have not been imported, only 3, and because of the high cost of labour in europe, which makes them expensive and add upto 50% of value of the tank.<br /><br />all said and done, you seem to think ranting is the solution to everyone's problems.Akashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-26124213068201653382011-11-26T01:23:08.204-08:002011-11-26T01:23:08.204-08:00Thank you again for getting news on Arjun MBT, Its...Thank you again for getting news on Arjun MBT, Its sad to see bunch of T-72M1 all over Army.. <br /><br />But<br /><br />What i see in Arjun protection upgrade, Is they simply add ERA at front, Arjun Turret need redesigning so does the chassis if not atleast add dynamic protection to it?, Arjun have 3 major weak points in Armour, As far as MK2 goes only one is corrected at the chassis, Other two are still left open.. <br /><br />Btw, Is that animated Pic is 100% true.. <br /><br />Thnx..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-80208453218548917132011-11-25T23:16:34.260-08:002011-11-25T23:16:34.260-08:00I wonder why there is no 20 or 30 year technology ...I wonder why there is no 20 or 30 year technology roadmap or something like that, by the army, to avoid such disorganized and unprofessional approach to indigenous modernization!Rahul Reddy Pogulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01366027981801835019noreply@blogger.com